hogwarts strikes again
I started the HP curriculum at the daycare again, at the request of my class. It's a little late to blog one day at a time right now, so for those interested I'll take you through the last three:
Day One: Orientation
I made them all wands from dowel rods and wooden candlesticks this time, and they actually looked quite realistic! I wrote down a wand core and wand wood for each wand and had them choose them with their eyes closed to have the wand 'choose' them, then read the meanings for each wand wood and core.
Dragon heartstring: Dragon heartstring is a powerful wand. It is not the core you want for subtlety, but for sheer power it is definitely the best.
Phoenix tail feather: Phoenix tail feather is a popular wand core due to its versatility and power. Its main strength lies in Defense Against the Dark Arts, although its adaptability can wrench it to hexes and jinxes if need be.
Unicorn hair: Unicorn hair is a more subtle wand, but it is quite compatible with Charms and Transfiguration. It is also hands-down the best core for healing, as it picks up some of the healing capabilities of unicorn blood. Unicorn hair has a reputation of picking gentle users.
Hippogriff feather: Hippogriffs are noble animals with a reputation for not taking a slight. These wands require constant respect, and if the wielder does not give it, they can watch its formerly stable and versatile magic backfire on it. It is not the strongest core, but it is one of the most adaptable.
Veela hair: Veela wands are temperamental like the creatures they come from. Some wizards enjoy the boost it gives to nature magics, divinations, and Charms.
Birch: Easy to use, good for a first wand. It's good with healing and fire spells.
Rowan: Willing and reliable, good for divination.
Ash: Excels at nature magic, also does well for offensive casting.
Alder: Rarely used, good for shield charms.
Willow: Flexible wand, good for love spells and healing spells.
Hawthorn: Good for concealment and cleansing spells.
Oak: Strong, sturdy wand, good for transfiguration.
Holly: Good for protective magic, especially against dark arts.
Hazel: Excellent for experimentation.
Vine: Flexible, slightly uncontrollable, good for charms.
Ivy: Deceptively strong wand, good with transfiguration.
Reed: Powerfully destructive wand.
Elder: Used for powerful healing magic.
Then, since it was a long day, (teacher work day), we made troll boogers (slime made of glue and borax,) drew pictures of their owls, made feather quill pens, and made cherry pasties. Cherry instead of pumpkin, since the kids didn't seem like they were willing to eat pumpkin ones. Day one of Hogwarts, part two seemed to be an overall success.
Day Two: Herbology
They studied dried mini-pumpkins, which I told them were good for attracting 'little folk' like fairies, pixies, gnomes, and leprechauns to their house as well as repelling minor Dark Creatures, like bogeymen. They pounded up a few of them for potions ingredients and wrote down their observations. They also sampled 'gillyweed', or seaweed salad. Some loved it, some hated it, most were ambivalent. Then they spent a long time dueling with their new wands!
Day Three: Defense Against the Dark Arts
This was a short day, since we also had a Kindness Awards Ceremony for the whole school. I brought in a basilisk tooth, a vial of vampire blood, some garlic, and a dragon tooth. We talked about Dark Creatures like vampires, werewolves, and basilisks, and I taught them the Patronus charm. I had a large jar full of papers with an animal written on it. They'd point their wand at the jar and cast the Patronus charm, and the paper I drew would be the form of their Patronus, which they then drew.
Also, thanks again to all of the people who left support for me in my last post.
Day One: Orientation
I made them all wands from dowel rods and wooden candlesticks this time, and they actually looked quite realistic! I wrote down a wand core and wand wood for each wand and had them choose them with their eyes closed to have the wand 'choose' them, then read the meanings for each wand wood and core.
Dragon heartstring: Dragon heartstring is a powerful wand. It is not the core you want for subtlety, but for sheer power it is definitely the best.
Phoenix tail feather: Phoenix tail feather is a popular wand core due to its versatility and power. Its main strength lies in Defense Against the Dark Arts, although its adaptability can wrench it to hexes and jinxes if need be.
Unicorn hair: Unicorn hair is a more subtle wand, but it is quite compatible with Charms and Transfiguration. It is also hands-down the best core for healing, as it picks up some of the healing capabilities of unicorn blood. Unicorn hair has a reputation of picking gentle users.
Hippogriff feather: Hippogriffs are noble animals with a reputation for not taking a slight. These wands require constant respect, and if the wielder does not give it, they can watch its formerly stable and versatile magic backfire on it. It is not the strongest core, but it is one of the most adaptable.
Veela hair: Veela wands are temperamental like the creatures they come from. Some wizards enjoy the boost it gives to nature magics, divinations, and Charms.
Birch: Easy to use, good for a first wand. It's good with healing and fire spells.
Rowan: Willing and reliable, good for divination.
Ash: Excels at nature magic, also does well for offensive casting.
Alder: Rarely used, good for shield charms.
Willow: Flexible wand, good for love spells and healing spells.
Hawthorn: Good for concealment and cleansing spells.
Oak: Strong, sturdy wand, good for transfiguration.
Holly: Good for protective magic, especially against dark arts.
Hazel: Excellent for experimentation.
Vine: Flexible, slightly uncontrollable, good for charms.
Ivy: Deceptively strong wand, good with transfiguration.
Reed: Powerfully destructive wand.
Elder: Used for powerful healing magic.
Then, since it was a long day, (teacher work day), we made troll boogers (slime made of glue and borax,) drew pictures of their owls, made feather quill pens, and made cherry pasties. Cherry instead of pumpkin, since the kids didn't seem like they were willing to eat pumpkin ones. Day one of Hogwarts, part two seemed to be an overall success.
Day Two: Herbology
They studied dried mini-pumpkins, which I told them were good for attracting 'little folk' like fairies, pixies, gnomes, and leprechauns to their house as well as repelling minor Dark Creatures, like bogeymen. They pounded up a few of them for potions ingredients and wrote down their observations. They also sampled 'gillyweed', or seaweed salad. Some loved it, some hated it, most were ambivalent. Then they spent a long time dueling with their new wands!
Day Three: Defense Against the Dark Arts
This was a short day, since we also had a Kindness Awards Ceremony for the whole school. I brought in a basilisk tooth, a vial of vampire blood, some garlic, and a dragon tooth. We talked about Dark Creatures like vampires, werewolves, and basilisks, and I taught them the Patronus charm. I had a large jar full of papers with an animal written on it. They'd point their wand at the jar and cast the Patronus charm, and the paper I drew would be the form of their Patronus, which they then drew.
Also, thanks again to all of the people who left support for me in my last post.